How to Relieve Stomach Pain from Eating Nuts

Nuts are considered to be one of the most nutritious foods around.
Image Credit: Rinchumrus/iStock/GettyImages

Nuts are considered one of the most nutritious foods around, full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber and minerals like magnesium and potassium. So it may surprise you if eating nuts — whether tree nuts, like almonds and cashews, or peanuts — leads to stomach pain and discomfort.

Advertisement

Read more:Foods to Soothe an Upset Stomach

Video of the Day

Why Nuts May Cause Pain

Nuts and seeds naturally contain a compound called phytic acid, says Lily Nichols, RDN, a dietitian/nutritionist and author of ‌Real Food for Pregnancy‌. "They specifically have this compound in order to protect them from sprouting before they're ready to grow," she explains. "It's evolutionary — the idea is that the seeds or nuts pass through an animal's GI system intact so it can plant in the ground and survive." (You may also hear this referred to as an "anti-nutrient.")

Advertisement

Problem is, for some people, phytic acid irritates the digestive system. In order to break down phytic acid, you need the enzyme phytase, but your body doesn't produce that enzyme on its own, says Nichols. Adding to the complexity, there are also tannins present in pecans and walnuts that give some people tummy trouble.

"You may be more sensitive to certain compounds than others," she says. Some nuts may aggravate you while others do not, and keeping track of your symptoms in a food journal can help you pinpoint the offender.

Advertisement

Know that stomach pain associated with eating nuts is likely not a true food allergy, which is a process that involves your immune system and comes with the possibility of an anaphylactic (or full-body) reaction, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. What you might have is a food intolerance, explains Joseph Fiorito, MD, chair of gastroenterology at Danbury Hospital, part of Nuvance Health in Danbury, Connecticut.

If you have an intolerance to nuts, you may experience symptoms one to four hours after eating them and, along with stomach pain, you may also have headache and nausea, he says. And pain isn't the only GI symptom you may experience — an intolerance to nuts can cause bloating and gas, too, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Advertisement

Severe Stomach Pain After Eating Nuts

If your stomach pain after eating nuts (or any food, for that matter) is particularly intense, that could be a sign of a larger digestive issue like gallstones, ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome, per the Mayo Clinic.

How to Get Relief

Though you may not experience total relief until your body has fully digested the food, the best methods for how to relieve stomach pain from nuts are similar to the measures you can take to ease any belly ache. Here are some natural remedies for an upset stomach that may help:

Advertisement

  • Eat plain, non-irritating foods like bananas, rice, applesauce and toast
  • Eat probiotic-rich foods like yogurt or kefir
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Sip ginger or licorice root tea
  • Do gentle yoga to aid digestion and ease bloating
  • Sniff peppermint
  • Avoid dairy products, carbonated drinks, alcohol and smoking

Advertisement

If you feel gassy, bloated or crampy after eating nuts like almonds, cashews or pistachios, as well as peanuts (actually a legume), there are also steps you can take to prevent discomfort in the first place. Nichols recommends tricking the nut or seed to germinate prior to eating it, which can be done by soaking it in water. In general, plan for a soak time of seven hours, she says.

Your nuts will come out of their bath soft, so you can then use them to make nut milk (like almond milk) or cream (as in cashew cream) for recipes. Otherwise, to get them crispy and crunchy again, you'll need to dehydrate the soaked nuts in an oven at a low temperature of 150 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12 hours, says Nichols.

Advertisement

If all that sounds like a tall order, you can speed up the process by using a dehydrator or, even quicker, by buying nuts that are already sprouted, which are available in some grocery stores. (Living Intentions is one such brand.)

Other Reasons for Discomfort

Several other factors can cause pain after eating nuts, including:

Advertisement

1. Portion Size

How big of a portion are you eating in one sitting? Your body may have trouble digesting a large amount of fat at once, especially if you're eating fast. "Large, undigested food particles put a strain on your digestive system," Nichols says.

Note that if you're perhaps eating a large quantity of nuts at once, it may be because there's something lacking in your diet elsewhere, and that possibility shouldn't be discounted.

Advertisement

Advertisement

"I've observed that people who are overeating nuts are often doing so because they're not eating enough at meals, especially when it comes to protein," Nichols says. Consider your overall diet and habits and be honest with yourself if you're consciously undereating.

2. Gas and Bloating

Nuts are full of fiber. Overall, this is a good thing — fiber can help normalize bowel movements and promote gut health, according to the Mayo Clinic.

But if your body isn't accustomed to eating lots of the nutrient, munching on high-fiber snacks like nuts can lead to gas and bloating. And that built-up gas can cause — you guessed it — stomach pain, per the Mayo Clinic.

To avoid this issue, gradually add fiber-rich foods like nuts into your diet over the course of a few weeks to give your body time to adjust, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Advertisement

Advertisement

references

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...